Montezuma JH Cross Country wraps up season, finishes 3rd at Washburn Classic

   The Montezuma Bravettes junior high girls cross country team competed at the 2019 Washburn Classic, the 26th annual state cross country meet for middle school athletes.
   On a day that started rainy and cold, the skies opened up just in time for the 1A girls race as just like the sun, the girls began to shine.
   With 151 runners at the start line for the combined 1A-2A 8th grade girls class, it was the biggest meet that the team had competed in all year. The meet itself had approximately 1,500 athletes participating in grades 7 and 8.
   In class 1A, the Bravettes took 3rd place as a team, an exciting finish in the first experience for the team down at Ankeny Centennial High School. Ellen Cook placed 19th in the two mile race, with Alivia Cline right behind her in 21st. Makenna Johannes recovered from an early stumble out of the gate, fighting off an injured ankle to finish 25th and once again, pack running was successful as Lydia Singleton finished right behind in 27th. Rounding out the top seven runners for Montezuma were Aja Kapayou, Ashlee Eilander, and Camryn Brennan, all of which showed great growth from their last two mile competition in early October.
   As the junior high season comes to a close, there is a lot to be proud of in terms of the junior high program as a whole and the future looks very bright for all athletes and teams!